Light and strong
An excellent strength to weight ratio, about five times lighter than building with bricks and concrete.
Stork SmartFrame
A fast track, world proven way to build: light gauge steel framing roll formed on CNC machines to the exact dimensions of your drawing.
Stork SmartFrame
Building in light gauge steel
Light gauge steel is a fast track construction method that builds with cold formed steel framing produced on CNC controlled roll forming machines. It is highly efficient and insulated, and one of the most versatile forms of construction in Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand.
Every stud, track and truss is roll formed to the drawing and labelled before it reaches site. We panelise in the factory or frame on site, and can take the building from foundation and structure to a weather tight shell, then turnkey finishing with MEP and civil works through to handover.
- Steel thickness from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, galvanised Z50 to Z275
- Up to 3 storeys in pure LGS, 3 to 10 in hybrid construction
- Hybrid buildings add hot rolled sections for strength and wider spans
- Fire, thermal and acoustic performance to Pakistan Building Code and IBC
Advantages of LGS
Why build in light gauge steel
No rot, cracks or warping
Steel is inorganic and dimensionally stable, so there is no rot, distortion, cracking or fungus.
Non combustible
Steel does not burn, and the tested wall build up carries a 90 minute fire rating.
Green and recyclable
The steel is 100 percent recyclable, and low energy and passive buildings are possible.
Faster to build
Panels are assembled in the factory and screwed together on site, saving time and money.
Consistent quality
Steel is produced to system standards, so material quality does not vary from member to member.
Speed
How fast LGS moves
Benchmarks from our own production and completed projects.
3 days
To factory frame a 3,000 sq ft villa
5 days
To install that villa on site
2 months
DHA head office, Karachi, completed
2 months
PAF Lower Topa base, completed
On site
Framing cut to the millimetre
Every stud, track and truss is rolled to the drawing and labelled before it leaves the factory. Site work becomes assembly, and a 3,000 sq ft villa can be installed in 5 days.
See our projectsTested performance
Testing parameters
| Parameter | Stork SmartFrame LGS |
|---|---|
| Fire protection | 90 minutes rated |
| Earthquake resistance | Zone 4 |
| Floor live load | 25 kg per sq ft |
| Wind load | 120 km/h |
| Moisture resistance | No damp |
| Life span | 50 years |
Specification
Components and build
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Wall panels | Cold formed steel, roll formed C channels of 90 × 40 mm |
| Roof trusses | Cold formed steel, roll formed C channels of 90 × 40 mm |
| Roof sheets | Colour coated PPGI or Onduline premium, 0.55 mm deep grooved or 3 to 4 mm corrugated |
| Interior cladding | Composite gypsum or concrete boards, 12 mm thick |
| Steel thickness | 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm |
| Galvanising | Z50 to Z275 |
| Storeys | Up to 3 in pure LGS; 3 to 10 in hybrid construction |
| Roll forming and design | CNC roll forming, with FRAMECAD design services, Scottsdale, Vertex and in house software |
| Construction method | Panelised in the factory or framed on site, depending on requirement and site access |
| Scope | Foundation, structure, weather tightening, turnkey finishing, MEP and civil works, handover |
How it runs
From drawing to standing structure
Your drawing becomes a model
The architectural drawing is modelled member by member. Openings, services and connections are resolved on screen, before anything is manufactured.
Members are roll formed to size
Each stud and track is produced to its exact length, pre punched for services and labelled with its position in the build.
Panels are assembled
Wall and floor panels are put together and checked for square, in the factory or on site.
The frame goes up
Panels are stood, plumbed and screwed together. A 3,000 sq ft villa goes up on site in about 5 days.
Envelope and finishes follow
Sheathing, insulation, services and finishes are installed into a frame that is already straight and true.
On site
From roll formed member to finished building
Stork SmartFrame LGS at every stage, including the huts at PAF Base Kalabagh.
Common questions
What clients ask about LGS
Light gauge steel construction uses cold formed steel sections to create lightweight structural frames for buildings. It suits customised architectural layouts and a wide range of residential and commercial applications.
We build villas, houses, schools, clinics, hospital wings, offices, hotel rooms, mezzanine floors, roof structures, rooftop extensions, partitions and other customised lightweight buildings.
Yes. LGS can be used for complete building structures, including residential and commercial projects, subject to proper engineering, foundations and design requirements.
LGS is a structurally engineered steel framing system, but it is not meaningful to say it is universally stronger than concrete or conventional construction. The right system depends on the design loads, the building requirements and the engineering.
LGS can reduce construction time through prefabricated, factory produced framing. A 3,000 sq ft villa can be factory framed in 3 days and installed in 5. The overall duration depends on design, foundations, materials, site work and finishing.
Yes. Our team manages the building from design and engineering through manufacturing, installation and finishing, according to the agreed scope.
Thinking about light gauge steel?
Send us a drawing or even a sketch. We will tell you honestly whether LGS is the right system for it.